Samsung Announces Bixby Preview Program

The absence of the company’s Bixby voice assistant proved a sticking point for many critics when the Samsung Galaxy S8 launched.

However, that omission looks set to be amended with Samsung themselves announcing a preview testing program for the feature that’ll finally bring it out of the company’s home nation of South Korea.

Though they haven’t given an exact start date for the program, the company are encouraging those interested in giving Bixby a go to sign up from today. Though, you do have to live in the States to be eligible.

Pitched as comprehensive voice assistant tool designed to integrate across Samsung’s product ecosystem, Bixby leverages AI technology to create a more personalized and intuitive smartphone experience.

“We see Bixby as an intelligent interface for your phone — an integral part of our connected ecosystem,” said Injong Rhee, CTO and Head of R&D, Software and Services, Samsung Mobile.

“From phones, to televisions, to refrigerators, we think that Bixby will provide users with a simpler, more intuitive way to control their favorite devices, and live a more connected life,” Rhee said.

Initially, it was expected that Samsung would roll out the English version of the feature within a month from the phone’s launch in late April.